The Scales Of Training: Rhythm & Relaxation/Suppleness/Losgelassenheit

What I find most interesting in the whole training of horses is how you can create a wonderfully athletic horse via precise, patient and well thought out training process. 

Although I am still nowhere near the level I want to be at one day, the only true training satisfaction for me comes from schooling the horses in that correct way. 

The reason I am mentioning it is the mad ginger creature I am riding at the moment. That little mare really makes me think how important relaxation is in the training process. The mare is so tense and stressy that it is impossible to do any positive work with her. 

Considering that the muscle must be relaxed to be conditioned effectively and that horses only truly learn when mentally relaxed it seems Dr. Klimke may have been right putting Losgelassenheit (Relaxation/Suppleness) above Rhythm on the Scales Of Training.

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SUPPLENESS

The aim is that the horse’s muscles have tone and are free from resistance and joints are loose and do not tighten against the riders aids. The muscles that are really important are those over the top line from the hind legs over the quarters, loins, in front of the wither and up to the poll. The test of whether a horse is supple and working ‘through’ the back and neck is that when the rein contact is eased as in a free walk) the horse wants to stretch forward and down and not try to hollow and lift his head

RHYTHM 

Rhythm should be both: 1. Regular, that is correct for each pace. In the walk there should be four hoof beats – in a marching time In the trot two hoof beats – the legs move in diagonal pairs plus a moment of suspension when all legs are of the ground. In the canter three hoof beats – only one diagonal pair move together and there is a moment of suspension 2. The same tempo (speed of the rhythm) and this should have a pronounced beat to it. The horse should not speed up or slow down whether going around a corner or on a straight line, lengthening his strides or shortening them.

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All this in mind I decided to at least start the process of finding out the ways to relax the stressy pony. My view is that to get to know the horse you have to ride it as many situations as possible and I personally like hacking out for this purpose. The mare hadn't really been hacked out as far as I know simply because her flight instinct is rather strong but I much rather be run away with in the open than in the arena. So off we went for a little walk on Saturday morning. It wasn't the most relaxing time for me as she likes to surprise the rider but I was really pleased with the end result. Walked her in the woods and open fields for about 35 minutes and she calmed down noticeably. 

Vid. Relaxing the Mad Ginger Mare

We went back to the paddock to do some trot work and although she was still running way too fast and wasn't reacting to the aids as she should, her whole attitude changed. It's funny how you can actually feel the different sort of 'running away' - she let me ride her in much longer outline, kept her neck lower and felt looser and softer through her whole body. 

This plus she didn't come back onto me with her neck in response to my half-halts which was my biggest problem so far.

She has a rather thick jowl and her salivary glands/parotid glands are large (basically look like constant puffiness behind the rim of the jowls) - the way she carries her neck means that when she flexes at the poll they must be getting uncomfortably squeezed. This might be partly because of her conformation but most likely from pulling on the reins which brings her jaws against her neck (the problem is she is so incredibly strong that when she was ridden by teenagers the only way to stop her for them was to keep pulling). 

All this considering, for now I would like to get to the point when she consistently carries her neck lower with an angle between her jowl and the throat open. Once her topline gets stonger and lifts the atlas joint she should be able to carry her head cleaner off her neck. Without this she is just working like a camel, bulging her very strong underneck muscles and powering forwards like a little train. Hopefully once she relaxes she will start taking reins forwards in transitions rather than come back onto rider and behind the vertical. I try not to pull at all and give her time when asking for halts and downwards transitions by just passively resisting through my seat and hands. She did some pretty good halt transitions with this method (taking the reins forwards and down).

I reckon the biggest challenge will be to break the pattern of her behaviour as when she "panics" or start "running" her brain seems to switch off...

The mare has an amazing engine but it's almost like putting a F1 cylinders into a Renault Clio = control problems! 

I am hoping that by showing her the way to relax and control her own power I will be able to direct her energy in a much more positive way.  

Never go 20m without doing something...

Since proper, serious training isn't really possible for me right now I've been watching a lot of various video footage of riders I find fascinating to observe. 

The one I think is an absolute master is Rainer Klimke. 

Sports science has proven record of athletes improving simply by including imagery into their training so I hope that some of Dr. Klimke's brilliance will rub off onto me ;))

Watching truly superb riders seems to work for me as it really makes me think about what I do. What stuck with me was Carl Hester's comment I once heard: 'Never go 20m without doing something'. I try to keep telling myself this over and over again when I school on my own and it certainly works! (that is if I am focused enough to listen to my self - talk!).

Very pleased with Mad Ginger Thing today - still mad but we managed a reasonable amount of walking without jogging, her trot work was better than yesterday and some of her walk to halt transitions were much less dramatic than yesterday's (i.e. we managed to just stand still without her piaffing and turning ;). 

Wonder if I could buy myself a mad pony...;))) Shh, stop being silly. But maybe...perhaps...

Riding her again tomorrow morning. Keeping me happy is quite simple - I just need a little project horse to work with every day and I am a happy bunny. 

Thanks to my lovely mum I also got quite a few DVDs with plenty of equestrian shows footage she patiently records for me. My new little packet arrived last night but I got back so late after staying longer to help turning horses out that I was too tired to have a good look at it. 

I am now fully stuffed with my very own home-made pankackes - mega yummy!, stretching my tired legs on bed and going to watch the Las Vegas World Cup final! :) 

Teacher training, XC with Uni club and bit of riding

I arrived at the yard this morning to be welcomed by this view  ;) 

Later in the day, old membrane goes:

Pics. above: Brand new membrane, brand new surface - yay!!!! We are having whole arena re-done completely as it was no longer weather proof!

The moment I looked at the day list today I knew I was going to have a fab day...spent whole morning training S. who prepares for her PTT exam with us. I actually find running those teacher training sessions really useful as a preparation for my own Intermediate Teaching exam in July. Assessing someone else's teaching really makes you think how you evaluate an instructor's performance and how to give feedback that will be of some use. 

We went through the lecture subjects (here's a link to what we focused on: General Guidelines for the Preliminary Teaching Test lecture/presentation) it was a very enjoyable brain storming hour, the more you discuss things the more options and ideas you generate. 

With the UKCC embracing equestrian qualifications there is an increased emphasis on non- sport- specific coaching knowledge. I personally think it should help to raise profile of equestrian coaching, of anyone involved in teaching riding and of coaching as a career. 

Then more practical teaching concentrating on the lunging and flatwork. It really is super educating to evaluate and feedback on another instructor's teaching, nothing gets you to think about your own teaching better than that! 

The best thing is that this whole assessing develops the listening skills; I always try to make sure my feedback is relevant and as accurate as possible. 

After lunch I spent two hours teaching Reading University Riding Club and what a super time that was ;) They are now in the middle of their preparations for the Mini-Badminton event we are running for them in June and we are practising the XC element...

Everybody is getting better and better but we still have little mishaps happening...

 

The Picture The Story

Me (running up the hill through the woods): Joy, how on earth did you manage to end up over there!!?? (shocked me, only told Joy to jump a little log but she promptly continued over palisade, up the steps and over barbed wire! Thank god horse had enough common sense to stop before attempting to jump the latter...)

Joy: I don't know...- Joy looking rather overwhelmed, bewildered.

Me: Are you all right? Can you move your legs? Toes? 

yes to all questions. Phew. Joy still looking out of it.

Me (got to see the bright side, it was quite incredulous): Would you like a picture? - Joy immediately livens up, quickly reaches towards her head - Wait!! - panic stricken voice - got to get my hair sorted...(as you do!!!)

Uni lessons done and a super end of the day schooling mad ginger thing. Gave her a thorough groom extracting enormous quantities of hair out of the pony - she's still moulting like hell but thankfully starting to look less like a mammoth and more like a pony. 

Then off we went for a 45 minutes of hard work and she is definitely settling down quicker now, listens more and is less stressy about life. 

I think I am riding her tomorrow again.

Back from Up North

After a couple of days with the family of my dearest and nearest I am back to London. Me plus a bit stronger shade of northern accent in my multi-accented already existing English language ;) 

Arranged for a viewing of another house next Tuesday which I am rather excited about as the property looks lovely.  

A rather interesting poem, apparently nation's favourite, and now mine too

IF.....

IF you can keep your head when all about you  Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings  And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!' If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, ' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch, if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! Rudyard Kipling

Got to ride today :)

Very relaxed day today teaching my most regular riders - almost feels like going to a coffee shop and chat about training! There is something special about this little stable and I will miss it like mad when the time to go comes. 

One of my riders is still away so I schooled one of the ponies, crazy little thing that is an apple in the eye of one my riders who also works/helps at the stables. For the last few months she's been working really hard on getting the pony to work correctly as furry mare has quite a bucking record on her! 

Strict as I am I made sure there was no neck pulling in malarkey so we spent a couple of months teaching Ada the long and low way of going and seeking the bit. Once she got it her entire walk/trot work transformed including transitions. However, canter is another matter as that gait for Ada meant bucking bronco here we come. We have some rather spectacular old videos to prove that ;) 

The canter transitions finally improved but her canter was still rather bad so I was asked to pop on madam and see what I can do. Although I've been teaching P. on her for over a year I've never actually ridden her so today was the first time. 

Spent good 20 minutes just in walk making sure we have all the basics understood, then lots of trot work with plenty of transitions. She tends to go a little deep at times but when you are on her she gives a really nice, firm feel on the outside rein. I do pick her up and make her work with poll up at the highest point but she isn't really strong enough to keep going like that for 45 minutes. 

The tricky bit is that she can be quite explosive so you can't worry her too much. 

Here's a little video of her 'bad' right rein at the end of the session as I wanted to see how she looked in both trot and canter. I know we are both all over the place but believe me that canter was actually the best effort from her I've ever seen. Good pony.

 

Headley Britannia and Lucinda Fredericks win Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event!

MORE on: http://www.rk3de.org/index.php

The scent of a horse

Pic. Talking horses and soaking up the sun - two of life's greatest things!

One of my clients had to cancel his 3 hours training due to some emergency so I ended up starting work at 11.30am. That meant a nice amount of sleep, super empty trains and a life of luxury ;) The day continued to roll on great: my first little job was to school a 14.1hh mad ginger thing which I like very much and will try to hop on her more often. 

Then Training Day with Kiran, my regular rider who is getting stronger and improving from session to session. 

As she does both riding & stable management her first challenge was to bath the mad ginger thing who was in definite need of a wash after the schooling! 

It was quite a giggle as bathing a fidgeting horse isn't exactly the same as giving a wash to your dog, the latter being the only animal bathing experience Kiran has had so far. She concluded she should have brought a wet suit. 

Either way, pony ended up looking rather sleek so mission accomplished.  

After filling our stomachs with some lunch the hard work started. As with all the beginner riders I always try to establish their basic position and increase body awareness as I don't think you can truly progress without these two elements in place. 

The theme for today was to continue to strengthen the rider's lower leg and work on effectiveness of the driving aids. To make the work more interesting we spent the entire day out of the arena - riding on the grass over slightly undulated terrain does wonders to riders' awareness of balance. 

I also upped the amount of trotting we did on a hack to further challenge Kiran's riding fitness.

Pic. above: My hacking horse and I bemused by the amount of bluebells 

Pic.above: Kiran on a hack. Don't you just love those flowers?? The mare thought the flowers were delicious! ;)

  

I will put a video of her progress soon on the Training Days' blog, for now just a short little preview of some of the work we did today: 

The best thing about having a rider around the horses for longer than a usual one hour session is that they learn more about the behaviours of the animal they ride. They also learn how to take care after the horse once the riding is over. 

They learn to sense the addictive scent of a horse...

"My Life As An Animal - Horses" - you just got to watch this!

"Two brave individuals volunteer to experience life as an animal for four very long days.Click here or image below to watch the video:

 

With the help of horse-behaviour experts, the two aspirant Dr Dolittles learn to sleep, eat and communicate like a horse. They will need all these skills to face their biggest challenge - to rise up through the horse hierarchy and become leader of the herd. 

But for one of the would-be horses, trying to be accepted by the herd proves more difficult and more painful than they had ever imagined."

Another 'up' day

There was an ABRS Teaching exam taking place at the centre today so everything was rather hectic. The horses looked super though and it was great to see them like this - they so deserve to be admired for all the work they put in.  

Myself had a very good day and I am rather pleased my doomy-gloomy mood stays clear (well, most of the time anyway). I am trying to think as many positive thoughts as humanly possible! 

It did help to have a very inquisitive and passionate rider on a Training Day today. She's a beginner (sort of, coming back to riding after a 20 years break...) but in the process of buying a horse so there was a lot of things to go through. Thankfully she is one of those first time buyers who also have a lot of common sense and is very committed to improvement prior the buy. 

There is way too many people who go into horse ownership as if they were buying a couple of guinea pigs - yes both animals eat grass and carrots but there is that little bit more to owning a 500kg gelding than it is to wondering where to position a piggy cage...

We chatted plenty and focused on consolidating the basics; made some plans for next sessions too so I hope to see the rider again soon.

Then I had my fab regular lady rider for two hours and considering her crazy life schedule where she basically hops on a horse straight from a plane, she is doing great. 

My Elementary and Medium laminated dressage tests arrived at the shop today so I am going to have a "read" tonight. Having just finished my non-horsey book I am now going to focus on some proper revising to my Intermediate Teaching exam in July.  

Thursday mix and a few words on leaving England

If you read my blog regularly you will remember a post I made back in January about having a bit of an "issue" with my trainer. I thought that was bad but it hasn't been much better ever since. In fact, it's been getting worse and worse. I kept riding at her lessons because I thought 'hell, she does make me feel like shit but there are times I learn something or other and in the end of the day I am not any super rider, got to listen to people who have more experience' etc etc

But it's been getting harder and harder to convince myself. I think we all have some sort of a borderline in ourselves. We can stretch it and stretch it but it's only a matter of time until it snaps. 

And today mine did so. 

It's not even that I was angry, mad or annoyed with the way she patronises me and turns everything I say around to make some totally unnecessary, unpleasant comments. I sat there on this mare listening to this woman and something in me just...resigned. I have had enough. I am sure there are many things she is right about but her ways of "teaching" don't work with me. 

They have the opposite effect and bring the worst in me. So what's the point? 

It wasn't a last minute decision to end the training with this trainer. I've been thinking about it since January and I did try to ignore all the bad things and tried to get the most out of every session. But I was so looking forward to riding today what with very little time in the saddle I am spending recently and I finally realised I really don't enjoy all this putting down business and behind the back comments. 

No point. 

On a more cheerful note, apart from the above, I had a lovely day. Taught some really nice people who make it all very rewarding. My driving lesson went well, then staff training. 

Went house viewing after work only to find the house wasn't suitable, then off to grab some food with my dear friend. It takes a fair bit of forward planning to see her now but it's so very worth it. I only hope your migraine didn't get worse with all that driving around :(

In the last five years I have grown so socialised into not seeing some very-important-people on any regular basis that it has almost become my second nature not to even try to change this painful status quo. You just tend to live with it, settle for a hologram like presence of them made up of voices, txts, emails and other electronic means. 

It's not enough though, doesn't work that great a deal and it taught me that if you only have a chance, keep seeing your special friends, they make world a place worth living in.

P.S. Judging by some comments and emails I seemed to have worried a few people with my remark on packing my bags and leaving England. It wasn't a serious consideration, just a way of describing my rather far from positive mood. There would however have to be many more negatives for me to even start thinking about such decision in real terms. 

I've always been on the move, some nomadic nature of mine. Always wanted to go farther and farther. Not so much anymore. I seemed to have grown very fond of this little island, of people, of the way equestrian sports flourish here and how important they are for so many. 

I don't think Ricky would be happy away from here. Dare I say, I don't think I would. I even like the 101 types of rain!

Not to mention that it would be a hell of a journey to come to visit my Friend once a week, can't be dealing with that! 

Yes, it's a tough time for me right now for a few reasons. But I got through worse in the past...as someone said in one of the comments: 'See you at the summit'. Wherever that is. 

I feel like I've never had a home. You know? I feel related to the country, to this country, and yet I don't know exactly where I fit in. And the same thing applies to the theater. I don't know exactly how well I fit into the scheme of things. Maybe that's good, you know, that I'm not in a niche. But there's always this kind of nostalgia for a place, a place where you can reckon with yourself. Now I've found that what's most valuable about that place is not the place itself but the other people; that through other people you can find a recognition of each other. I think that's where the real home is.

SAM SHEPARD, Don Shewey's Sam Shepard

Skewbald tan, a bit of laugh and I must remember to buy sunscreen

Pics. above: Joy and Sam, Reading Uni Riding Club Riders cooling their horses down in the wood after the lesson

I didn't post yesterday as my rather down aura continued and didn't really have anything positive to say but I am feeling much better today. 

My energy was definitely on the up today and although I am way away from my true self yet at least no doom and gloom! I am feeling much more positive about the whole house move and just hoping my dearest and nearest is going to be happy too. 

At work. Apart from not riding AGAIN I had a great day. Spent most of the time doing assessments for a lady who trains for her PTT exam with us. Thankfully she's got similar sense of humour as having a good laugh at work is what I miss the most after my friend's departure. 

Even better, some of the Reading Uni riders are back so we had a good catch up and I put them through their paces on the grass. They promised to lend me their car for some driving practice next week, yahey! Hmm, hope they don't regret it ;)))

I really must remember to buy a Sunscreen! Ended the day with farmers arms and a red forehead (as didn't put my hat on in the morning). Ah, nothing like a skewbald effect - super white legs and shiny brown forearms ;) 

 

P.S. Interesting article I got via email today: Conformation and Function

LIVE Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event Coverage on Freelance Instructor's Diary

A few days ago I received the following email:

Hi Wiola,

We are doing something really cool from the Rolex Kentucky 4 star this year.  We are using a service called "Cover it Live" to cover the event in a live blogging type format that allows your readers to participate.  We are offering all of our affiliates a chance to carry it as well.  It is as easy as plugging in a YouTube embed code.  That is all there is to it and you can bring your readers minute by minute coverage of the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.  This is a trial event for the 2010 WEG.

Here is a sample of the "Cover it Live" interface.  Hit the replay button:

http://eventingradio.horseradionetwork.com/2009/04/11/rolexlive/

As I am already posting their WEG 2010 episodes and really enjoy them I decided to go for this one as well. So here's what I got from Glenn today! :) Keep checking back once the event is on!  I will put it up to the top of the posts during the event.

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Just short musings on my day off

Quote of the Day
Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness.
Sigmund Freud 

Lots of sleep today, followed by lots of walking around West London, followed by lots of talking on house move and life in general, some coffee and some food in the meantime, followed by more walking and more talking. 

Feeling rather down today, the *I will never make it* day. The *should I just pack my bags and go back to where I came from...where I could do more with the full support of my family* day... I don't *seriously* think that (too stubborn for that, me!) but I am sure at least some of you will know what I mean. The stupid self-pity day when you would want someone to help you but the sad truth is you are in it on your own. What is bad is that I keep having more and more of days like this and I am missing my self-driven self. 

Yet again, giving up would mean failing and that's not on my agenda.

But the going isn't too good right now.

I am only writing all this now so hopefully, a few years on, I will look back and think 'you silly old cow, you shouldn't have worried, see everything turned out to be just fine'...

Fingers crossed.

Tight.

Very tight.

Some pics from yesterday

My riding has deteriorated so much I don't even think I should be posting these photos but here you go, only because Hammie boy is such a stunning creature! Many Thanks to Jenny for snapping the pics.